SAINTS will have to pay about £6m to stand a chance of prising strike target Jay Rodriguez away from Burnley.

As revealed by the Daily Echo, the club last week had a £4.5m bid rejected for the 22-year-old.

That would have broken Saints’ record transfer fee of £4m, which they paid for midfielder Rory Delap a decade ago.

But it seems they will now need to smash that sum if they want to sign the highly-rated Rodriguez.

Following Saints’ initial offer, the Clarets have insisted the player is not for sale.

However, Ipswich manager Paul Jewell – who will pit his side against Saints this evening – has revealed that Burnley were not so dismissive when he approached them recently.

Jewell was told he could indeed buy Rodriguez, but only if the Tractor Boys stumped up £6m.

“We bid a lot of money for Rodriguez in the summer and we were told that he wasn’t for sale unless it was £6 million,” said Jewell. The high price put Ipswich off, but it remains to be seen whether Saints will go back in for the player.

Jewell’s revelation casts doubt over the Clarets’ insistence that they will not sell Rodriguez.

But, as of yesterday, Burnley said there had been no further contact from anyone for their star man.

Saints obviously have cash to spend, after the £12m sale of Alex Chamberlain to Arsenal last week.

Full story in today's Southern Daily Echo